I have compiled in hopes others make the switch or start with HPS from the beginning instead of spending hard earned cash on CFL and being disappointed, don’t get me wrong I started with CFL also and have seen some impressive results and veg with CFL, but in the long run HPS is indeed the best choice for flowering because I to was/have been disappointed.
I switched 1 weeks ago and already seeing some impressive results than with my CFL array…any way here is what I have learned.
---HPS is much less expensive to operate than any other type of light, and comes in the 70 watt size at the home improvement stores that blows away CFL in efficiency; they are the best alternative to CFL for very small operations, like 9 sq. feet or less. Over 9 sq. feet, you need more light than one of these lights can provide, but you could use two of them as they are a very compact design. Two lamps would be 140 watts putting out about 12k lumens with standard bulbs, compared to CFL which would require (5) 42 watters for equal lumens drawing 210 watts of power and the heat factor would be much higher. (see heat chart below) 70 watt HPS security lights cost about $40-60 each, complete with enclosed housing and glass shield.
The heat is very low compared to CFL and with the glass shield plants can be 1 inch from light with no burn.
Enclosure is also designed so a small PC fan could be installed for additional cooling if needed when running two.
I have compiled a heat chart below with available lights I have as a comparison, the thing I found when using CFL is 5 x 155 degrees is a whole lot of heat to deal with, since switching my temps are now running 10 degrees cooler in the overall enclosure and the plants are much happier not being smothered with all the radiant heat caused by CFLs being placed around the plants.
I do supplement the canopy HPS with 2 dual vertical T8 30 watt 36 inch tubes placed in the back corners using 6500k and 4100k bulbs in each fixture and plants love this combo.
Everyone will have to make your own choice maybe this can help.
---Heat Chart
(All temps taken with a MasterCool™ Infrared digital thermometer)
(Temps taken 2 inches from surface of bulb/enclosure)
(Temps posted in degrees Fahrenheit)
---HPS
70 watt 126
100 watt 145
---CFL
23 watt 143
42 watt 155
---Floro-Tubes
T5 24 inch 17 watt 85
T8 36 inch 30 watt 90

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(Genesis 1:29-31):Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food. And it was so.

wow, thats a lot of work. Soo...I guess the best is the t-5 then.? VV

Nice little project, good work appreciate the info.

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This was my first, I'm so proud of her even though I don't know her name!

So you measured the HPS light from outside the glass/heat shield and the CFLs just next to the bulb with no glass/heat shield? Sorry if I misunderstood anything you said, but if I'm not mistaken, this seems rather pointless in the sense of proving that HPS run cooler than CFLs. I'm sure if you put a plate of glass in front of those CFLs, just like the HPS light has, they would read a lot cooler too. I'm a little baked right now, but this is how it seems to me. Please correct me if I'm wrong and I mean no disrespect, it is just that this test seems skewed.

my 125W enviro has 12k lumens, just thought id throw that in

Indie, I think he did this assuming people didn't make glass shields for CFL's...
but I guess it is a possibility.

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I like to sass it up.

how tall and how many plants can be put under each bulb?...i would think just spending around $150 for a 400w would justmake things so much easier than a few 70w and fewer plants?1 400w and more plants,right?....ras

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"The same reasons i can't be a witness or on a jury due to my credibility everything i say on here is false"

The temps were read as stated 2 inches from surface of enclosure or bulb. I would like to see some CFLs in a cool tube or enclosure....due to the size and lumens you would need (5) 42 watters in that enclosure and light penatration will not be but 6-8 inches at best....most CFL set ups Ive seen use bulb in a socket and bulbs are placed around the plant....there by raising temps to sometimes uncontrollable levels.

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(Genesis 1:29-31):Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food. And it was so.

It is really not about the number of plants you have but space you have...this thread was done with the small operation in mind....like the example 9 square feet....equals 9 plants if done right....the majority of grows are small cabs and closets and I would imagine that a 400w puts out a heafty amount of heat and this small area would be hard to control heat.....the other reason for 2 is the height factor between plants....I use 2 because I stagger harvests and not all plants are the same height with 2 I can have 1 on taller level and the other on the smaller babes....cant do that with just one light...also I am a big advocate of side lighting as this seems to keep the stretch level down somewhat and bushes the plant and lower buds much more...I have a combined 8000 lumens on back side with the T8 floros...with that being said I do not need the penatration benefit of larger wattage lights...but you are correct more light equals more plants if you have the space.

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(Genesis 1:29-31):Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food. And it was so.

That is indeed the reason this was done....with all those CFLs around, on top, and everywhere else the heat is hard to control.... and wanted to show CFLs are not as low heat as hyped...and how many CFLs other than the Lights of America security type lights have enclosures??...none and the Lights of America using the florolux bulb is 6500K so that would not work well for flowering only vegging.

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(Genesis 1:29-31):Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food. And it was so.